Callups?

[soapy]

If Bradley is healthy, then you can get by with Fox and Hoffpauir in the same lineup. Gathright is never going to start since he's the 3rd or 4th outfielder at every spot, so strictly as a bench player having Fox around might be better. And if Bradley gets hurt again you can swap Fox for Sam Fuld or something(since you'd have to release Gathright) to get that outfield D back. Doubt it happens though, Bradley's too frail and they really like Gathright as a defensive replacement/pinch runner.

 

Do they? How many times has he been used as such? I haven't really noticed it happening but perhaps I've missed it.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

What do the advanced fielding metrics say about Fukudome in CF and RF?

 

They have Fukudome about +13 in RF last year, and -13 in CF over about 15 games.

 

That's *really* awful for 15 games.

 

How would a +13 in RF translate to CF, on average? Not too good, I would assume, but you know how far that gets you.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

If Bradley is healthy, then you can get by with Fox and Hoffpauir in the same lineup. Gathright is never going to start since he's the 3rd or 4th outfielder at every spot, so strictly as a bench player having Fox around might be better. And if Bradley gets hurt again you can swap Fox for Sam Fuld or something(since you'd have to release Gathright) to get that outfield D back. Doubt it happens though, Bradley's too frail and they really like Gathright as a defensive replacement/pinch runner.

 

Do they? How many times has he been used as such? I haven't really noticed it happening but perhaps I've missed it.

 

I guess it hasn't happened as much since then, but he was used as such in 3 of the first 4 games.

[CubColtPacer]

If Bradley is healthy, then you can get by with Fox and Hoffpauir in the same lineup. Gathright is never going to start since he's the 3rd or 4th outfielder at every spot, so strictly as a bench player having Fox around might be better. And if Bradley gets hurt again you can swap Fox for Sam Fuld or something(since you'd have to release Gathright) to get that outfield D back. Doubt it happens though, Bradley's too frail and they really like Gathright as a defensive replacement/pinch runner.

 

Do they? How many times has he been used as such? I haven't really noticed it happening but perhaps I've missed it.

 

I guess it hasn't happened as much since then, but he was used as such in 3 of the first 4 games.

 

Lou has said they aren't going to remove Fukudome anymore like they did the first week. Gathright was assumed to be a replacement for Bradley in the late innings, but it doesn't look like they are going to do that. And lately they've been letting Reed replace Hoffpauir instead of Gathright.

 

Gathright could possibly have a role on this team, but it would require the Cubs changing some of their decisions about how they want to use other players. If they stay the same way that they have been this past week, he really has no role.

[soapy]

If they're willing to use Hoffpauir in the OF, then they have six OF's including Gathright (when Bradley is healthy). I would think that Reed and Fukudome are more than adequate defensively in CF/RF late in games if they insist on pulling Bradley. They can also throw Miles in the OF in an emergency.

 

I really think Gathright is worthless at this point.

[Guest]

If they're willing to use Hoffpauir in the OF, then they have six OF's including Gathright (when Bradley is healthy). I would think that Reed and Fukudome are more than adequate defensively in CF/RF late in games if they insist on pulling Bradley. They can also throw Miles in the OF in an emergency.

 

I really think Gathright is worthless at this point.

 

At this point? How about since he's been a Cub.

 

I always said that if a situation arises where a small vehicle might impede a runner between two of the bases, Gathright might be a good guy to have around. Other than that.........

[soapy]

If they're willing to use Hoffpauir in the OF, then they have six OF's including Gathright (when Bradley is healthy). I would think that Reed and Fukudome are more than adequate defensively in CF/RF late in games if they insist on pulling Bradley. They can also throw Miles in the OF in an emergency.

 

I really think Gathright is worthless at this point.

 

At this point? How about since he's been a Cub.

 

I always said that if a situation arises where a small vehicle might impede a runner between two of the bases, Gathright might be a good guy to have around. Other than that.........

 

I won't disagree with that. I guess I meant more in the eyes of management. I assume (as TT noted) they saw him as a defensive replacement when they picked him up. But if he's not going to be used even in that capacity now (for example, he wasn't last night), then I'm not sure how they can justify keeping him around. I mean, he's not even getting onto the field while they are working with a short bench because of Bradley.

 

If Gathright isn't on the 25 for defensive purposes, just get rid of him and bring up Fox. If you have an emergency in the OF Miles can fill in until Fuld gets called up.

[dew1679666265]

What do the advanced fielding metrics say about Fukudome in CF and RF?

 

They have Fukudome about +13 in RF last year, and -13 in CF over about 15 games.

 

That's *really* awful for 15 games.

 

How would a +13 in RF translate to CF, on average? Not too good, I would assume, but you know how far that gets you.

 

Fielding metrics are highly flawed measures, however.

 

Why do they have Fukudome so low?

[dew1679666265]

If they're willing to use Hoffpauir in the OF, then they have six OF's including Gathright (when Bradley is healthy). I would think that Reed and Fukudome are more than adequate defensively in CF/RF late in games if they insist on pulling Bradley. They can also throw Miles in the OF in an emergency.

 

I really think Gathright is worthless at this point.

 

At this point? How about since he's been a Cub.

 

I always said that if a situation arises where a small vehicle might impede a runner between two of the bases, Gathright might be a good guy to have around. Other than that.........

 

I won't disagree with that. I guess I meant more in the eyes of management. I assume (as TT noted) they saw him as a defensive replacement when they picked him up. But if he's not going to be used even in that capacity now (for example, he wasn't last night), then I'm not sure how they can justify keeping him around. I mean, he's not even getting onto the field while they are working with a short bench because of Bradley.

 

If Gathright isn't on the 25 for defensive purposes, just get rid of him and bring up Fox. If you have an emergency in the OF Miles can fill in until Fuld gets called up.

 

I think they originally envisioned Gathright to fill the role that Pie has in recent years - defensive replacement and pinch runner.

 

That said, he's obviously not doing it right now.

[SouthSideRyan]

What do the advanced fielding metrics say about Fukudome in CF and RF?

 

They have Fukudome about +13 in RF last year, and -13 in CF over about 15 games.

 

That's *really* awful for 15 games.

 

How would a +13 in RF translate to CF, on average? Not too good, I would assume, but you know how far that gets you.

 

FTR, that's a per 150 game rate, not his rate over 15 games.

[soapy]

If Gathright isn't on the 25 for defensive purposes, just get rid of him and bring up Fox. If you have an emergency in the OF Miles can fill in until Fuld gets called up.

 

I think they originally envisioned Gathright to fill the role that Pie has in recent years - defensive replacement and pinch runner.

 

That said, he's obviously not doing it right now.

 

Agreed, which is why many people were questioning bringing in Gathright in the first place (thinking they should just let Pie do that job).

 

It's early. Maybe Lou's still trying to find out what role Joey has. I suppose they don't really need to rush to a decision at this point. Gathright seems like the kind of guy you'd love to have on a playoff roster as a pinch runner, but really has little to no use during the regular season.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Why do they have Fukudome so low?

 

My answer would be because he has awful range for a centerfielder, but your mileage may vary.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

What do the advanced fielding metrics say about Fukudome in CF and RF?

 

They have Fukudome about +13 in RF last year, and -13 in CF over about 15 games.

 

That's *really* awful for 15 games.

 

How would a +13 in RF translate to CF, on average? Not too good, I would assume, but you know how far that gets you.

 

The -13 is prorated for a full season, sorry if that wasn't clear. It has him -2.5 over about 15 games, which is much worse than I originally said(not reading correctly today), but heavily based on last year(-2.2 to -0.3 in about the same time).

 

As for translation, I imagine +13 in RF translates to at least several runs above average in CF, but I don't know the exactitudes.

[Rob]

What do the advanced fielding metrics say about Fukudome in CF and RF?

 

They have Fukudome about +13 in RF last year, and -13 in CF over about 15 games.

 

That's *really* awful for 15 games.

 

How would a +13 in RF translate to CF, on average? Not too good, I would assume, but you know how far that gets you.

 

The -13 is prorated for a full season, sorry if that wasn't clear. It has him -2.5 over about 15 games, which is much worse than I originally said(not reading correctly today), but heavily based on last year(-2.2 to -0.3 in about the same time).

 

As for translation, I imagine +13 in RF translates to at least several runs above average in CF, but I don't know the exactitudes.

 

If memory serves, the approximate translation from CF to LF is 10 runs. RF would be a bit less than that.

[dew1679666265]

What do the advanced fielding metrics say about Fukudome in CF and RF?

 

They have Fukudome about +13 in RF last year, and -13 in CF over about 15 games.

 

That's *really* awful for 15 games.

 

How would a +13 in RF translate to CF, on average? Not too good, I would assume, but you know how far that gets you.

 

The -13 is prorated for a full season, sorry if that wasn't clear. It has him -2.5 over about 15 games, which is much worse than I originally said(not reading correctly today), but heavily based on last year(-2.2 to -0.3 in about the same time).

 

As for translation, I imagine +13 in RF translates to at least several runs above average in CF, but I don't know the exactitudes.

 

If memory serves, the approximate translation from CF to LF is 10 runs. RF would be a bit less than that.

 

So that'd make him average in CF then?

[dew1679666265]

Why do they have Fukudome so low?

 

My answer would be because he has awful range for a centerfielder, but your mileage may vary.

 

Thanks.

[Rob]

So that'd make him average in CF then?

 

Thereabouts. I'd probably guess he'll rank around average this year, adjust, and be +5 next year... provided those numbers are correct. I don't have my new Fielding Bible yet.

[dew1679666265]

So that'd make him average in CF then?

 

Thereabouts. I'd probably guess he'll rank around average this year, adjust, and be +5 next year... provided those numbers are correct. I don't have my new Fielding Bible yet.

 

I would have thought slightly above average, but that sounds fairly accurate.

 

Thanks.